History of the Theatre

Remembering the Early Pioneers of Our Theatre

By Susan Dougherty, President HRTG, 2025

We moved to Heritage Ranch in January 2023.  Like many, we came through those gates and were struck by lush greens, mature trees, water, and birds.  It was established – with no identity crisis.  We had entered a seasoned community with roots and full-strength character.  That much we saw, but even more – felt.  

I’ve been a part of the HR Theatre Guild for a couple of years now.  And I went seeking information about how it all started and when.  Unfortunately, not many of the original founders are around these days.  But after talking with a few people, I did discover an origin story that’s worth sharing, both for residents who are newer here and as nostalgia for those that came first.

Early on, in 2003, a group of women regularly gathered at the club, wine in hand.  As someone once said: “wine a little, laugh a lot”.   And I think here at the Ranch we’re still going strong on that front.

 From the beginning, their companionable gatherings included laughter, jokes, and performing silly little skits on the fireplace hearth.  They were younger, and each had their own story that landed them exactly there. 

The desire to entertain and be entertained existed and grew.  Later, what seemed merely frivolous (that wine again), turned more serious.  They connected with a teacher at Collin College who came and taught them some basics of theatre.  And this is how on March 22, 2007, the HR Theatre Guild took shape and form. 

The very first play was written by resident Jerrie Clements with contributions from Louise Palmer, Phil Steiman, and Bill Frankeberger.  It was The Great Robbery or How I Got Hosed – directed by Flo Hooker.  Sadly, many of these men and women have passed away or moved off the Ranch. If our resident directory is accurate, only four residents remain that acted in that play 18 years ago – Ken Foley, Louise Palmer, Barbara Brunette, and Joan Van Vliet.  And Joan Van Vliet reemerged last month to play Florabelle in the HR Theatre Guild’s spring production of Madness on Madrona Drive. She is still going strong!

In a world full of so much conflict, I am grateful to call this community home.  Despite our differences and opinions, the special feeling comes not just from nature or the fairways.  It’s the people and how time and shared experiences have burnished our community into a fine patina.

You simply cannot build that overnight.  And live theatre is nothing, if not for people.  The HR Theatre Guild is just one of the many clubs and groups that had its beginnings so many years ago, adding to our amazing collective.  And I for one, am thankful to those ladies, 22 years ago, that were dancing on the hearth.